'Serious safety concerns' raised over turning point on N4
The Leitrim junction requires urgent attention, according to the local representatives
A meeting of Carrick-on-Shannon Municipal District heard of “a serious safety concern” on the N4 in the direction of Dublin from Carrick-on-Shannon.
Cllr Maeve Reynolds asked that the Council engage with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) regarding the junction of the N4 and L7426, where there is currently no turning lane for either local road.
The junction is located around 500 metres after the L3656 turn for Jamestown, which has a right-hand turning bay. The L7426 is the road leading down to The Cottage Restaurant.
Cllr Reynolds’ motion stated, “When vehicles turn simultaneously from opposite directions, there is insufficient space for oncoming traffic to pass safely within the 100km/h speed limit. Given reported near misses, this junction requires urgent assessment and appropriate safety measures, rather than waiting for a serious collision to occur.”
She disputed a response from the Roads Department which stated that TII is not in favour of installing a right-hand turning lane at this location, as it would reduce overtaking opportunities along the national route and “lead to a greater risk of unsafe overtaking.”
The response also noted that there have been no recorded incidents or collisions at this location.
Cllr Reynolds argued that there is no hard shoulder or lane for vehicles to turn left into, and said she has encountered situations where one vehicle is turning right while another is turning left, leaving the main stream of traffic completely blocked and forcing vehicles to come to a complete stop in a 100km/h zone.
“If there was more space on the left hand side for left hand traffic to turn in it would make it a lot safer,” she said.
Senior Engineer Darragh O Boyle said that it is “anecdotal evidence” of incidents, which TII would not take into account, and that TII are turning away from right-hand turning bays.
“We will have conversations with TII but if the data doesn’t stack up, it is unlikely they will put a turning lane there,” he said, adding, “we will engage and see what happens.”